Sorry I haven't updated in a while. I had to do some research for this one. Thank you to my reviewers and those of you who didn't review need to or I may not post the birth chapter. Also, when you review, tell me if you want a boy or a girl. NO TWINS. One or the other. Suze has enough problems with this pregnancy without having multiple births. The gender with the most votes will become the gender of Suze and Jesse's baby but I need at least five votes.
Disclaimer: I do not own the mediator characters. I made up the names for Jesse's mother and two younger sisters and the plot but that is it.
AN: I read in the sixth book that the three older sisters are called Marta, Mercedes, and Josefina so I shortened them. The other two are really named Isabella and Esperanza in this fic.
Also, This fic has sort of a less than happy ending. No one dies, but something serious happens (thus the research).
Problems with independence
You'd think that mediators would get some kind of maternity leave. Up until now Jesse has taken care of all the ghosts. However, these ones won't even speak to him. There are six of them. All from the 1860's. The oldest, Louise, looks about 46 and claims to be the mother of the others. Then comes Marti, who looks about 28. The second daughter, Cedes, appears to be about 27. Fina is about 25. At 23, Bella is probably the sanest of them all. The youngest looks 20 and is called Anza by her mother and sisters. They don't know why they are here.
In three days, Jesse and I are hosting a 4th of July picnic. I sincerely hope the ghosts don't decide to show up. Jesse keeps busy by planning the party and painting the nursery that I am not allowed around until he is done. I don't see him a lot right now.
The ghosts hang around when he's not though so I'm NEVER alone. It's gotten to the point where I dread seeing that tell-tale bluish glow even more than I used to.
This morning, Jesse and I had breakfast together before he went back to painting the nursery and I went to my doctor's appointment. I was going to be shadowed by my six ghostly companions. Jesse doesn't go to my appointment with me because he becomes convinced that something is wrong with me or the baby. (This is why doctors don't practice on their families.) His tension raises my stress level so the doctor told me to make him stay at home when I come.
"You'll call me if anything is wrong?" he asked me yet again.
"Jesse! Nothing is wrong! You're just being paranoid!" I told him.
On my way back from the hospital I realized he had some base for his fear now. My appointment had not gone very well. The doctor found higher than normal protein levels in my urine in addition to high blood pressure. I've been having headaches recently as well. Apparently these are symptoms of pre-eclampsia. I have been ordered to collect urine samples, record baby movements, and write down any headache or vision problems that I have for the next forty-eight hours. Then I take them to the doctor who will tell me whether I'm on bed rest or not. I decided not to tell Jesse just yet. Unfortunately, my acting skill, which were poor in the first place, have deteriorated as my pregnancy has progressed.
"What's wrong?" Jesse asked me as we crawled into bed that night.
"Nothing's wrong. Why would you think something was wrong?" Yeah real smooth Suze.
"Because you have been acting odd ever since you got back from your appointment. Did something happen, Querida?" I could see his concern in his eyes, but all it did was tick me off.
"NO!" I shouted. I then turned my back to him and pulled the covers over my head. Unfortunately that tactic still doesn't work. He just pulled at the covers and tried to talk to me. I ignored him and he finally gave up and went to sleep.
However, the baby started kicking. Of course now I couldn't sleep. So I thought I might try being a little bit vindictive tonight. I rolled over close to Jesse. He felt my proximity and turned over to embrace me before the baby dug a little foot into his kidney. (AN: My mother used to do this to my dad when she was pregnant with me!) And this child kicks HARD too. I think it learned from my kickboxing tapes or something.
Jesse opened his eyes and looked at me reproachfully. I glared at him and he chuckled at me and started stroking my stomach. This made me feel better so I leaned in and cuddled up to him before falling asleep.
The next day I stayed home because of a massive migraine. Of course Louise stopped by to see me early on.
"Does your head hurt?" She asked me sympathetically. NO DIP SHERLOCK! I didn't answer her so she sat next me and started stroking my back like Jesse would have done if he were there.
Anza came in next and picked up some yarn and needles and started making a baby blanket. Marti and Cedes came at the same time. They looked at me and Marti started cleaning house for me while Cedes made some kind of Spanish food. Fina came in and saw everyone busy. She noticed I had recorded my baby movements in a sloppy hand and copied them in neater handwriting. Bella came and sat next to me while stroking my stomach. They're really not that bad I guess.
About five minutes later, Jesse walked in and surprised us. Of course he looked surprised as well. (Please say you saw this one coming when you first started reading this!)
"Mother! What are you doing here?" he asked Louise. Now I understood why they hadn't wanted to him. They were trying to watch out for the baby discreetly!
"Jesse dear. We were just helping Susannah out. We're only here until the baby is born. Then we'll move on and let you be." Se told him. After the reunion of Jesse, Louise, Marta, Mercedes, Josefina, Isabella, and Esperanza, everything was pretty calm. At least until the morning of the party.
AN: Serious Part starts here↓↓
I was getting ready to go to the doctor's and give her my recordings and urine samples when it happened. Jesse and his family were in the room with me. He thought I was going shopping. Suddenly my head started pounding and my vision went blurry. My abdomen started hurting and my knees buckled. Jesse caught me and laid me on the bed while reaching for the phone.
Three hours later, I was hooked to and IV and a strange machine in a hospital bed. Jesse kept looking at me all worried. He occasionally stroked my hair or held my hand for a few minutes. His mother had told him about my appointments in the ambulance. I'll let you use your imagination on his reaction to this news. My mother and everyone else were at our house waiting for a phone call or some other form of news according to Jesse.
I turned out I had a not too severe yet not too mild case of pre-eclampsia and they put me on bed rest for the rest of my pregnancy. I would be released from the hospital the next day. Meanwhile Jesse was sent home where he gave everyone the news and got our bedroom ready for visits from friends and family. Our picnic had been ruined but no one really cared anyway. Except for me of course because now I was stuck in bed for THREE WHOLE MONTHS!
AN: Pre-eclampsia is a serious condition. It proceeds eclampsia which is a fancy word for seizures. It is one of the leading causes of maternal and fetal deaths in the third trimester of pregnancy.
I had to do a lot of research for this one and don't worry. Nothing will happen to Suze or the baby. Speaking of the Baby. Girl or Boy. I need at least five votes! Vote by reviewing. I also need regular reviews to. I need motivation!